By Ryan Sands
Uncertainty surrounds the future of the Carlingford Lough Ferry after it was confirmed that it will not be sailing at all this year.
A brief statement posted on the ferry’s website last week said that it “will not be operating a service between Greencastle, County Down, and Greenore, County Louth, on any date in 2026”.
It also stated that “all tickets with outstanding trips valid for travel in 2026 will have their expiry dates extended, so they can be used when the ferry is back in service”.
The Mourne Observer contacted Carlingford Lough Ferry, which is operated by Frazer Ferries Ltd, for further information on why the service has been suspended for this year and on what date it is anticipated to return.
It was also asked if it could offer any reassurance that the service will definitely return and if it is the company’s intention to continue it when the Narrow Water Bridge is completed.
A response was not received at the time of going to press.
The Carlingford Lough Ferry was launched in 2017, having been granted planning permission two years earlier.
The 2015 planners’ report that recommended it be approved noted that 249 letters of objection, some of which called into question the ferry’s feasibility, had been submitted to the council over the course of the application process.
Local political representatives have voiced their dismay at the latest development.
In a joint statement, the SDLP’s South Down MLA Colin McGrath and Mournes councillor Laura Devlin said that the ferry had become “a defining part of the Carlingford Lough experience” and that last week’s news “marks a major loss for tourism, connectivity and the identity of the wider border region”.
Mr McGrath stated that “the announcement will be deeply disappointing for local communities and businesses who benefitted from the unique attraction the ferry brought to the area”.
“Over the years, the ferry became much more than transport,” he continued.
“It became part of the story people told about visiting this area.
“Families planned days around it, tourists experienced the beauty of the lough from the water, and local businesses benefitted from the visitors it attracted across both counties.
“There was something special about arriving into South Down across Carlingford Lough, with the Mournes opening up in front of you.
“It showcased our area in a way few other attractions could.
“Its absence leaves a real void in our tourism offering, and people will now be asking serious questions about its future.”
Cllr Devlin added that she has “always believed that the ferry could work alongside the Narrow Water Bridge project as part of a wider scenic tourism route through the region”.
“When the Narrow Water Bridge was announced, I always envisaged the ferry playing a role within a unique scenic loop linking visitors through Carlingford, Warrenpoint, Rostrevor and into the heart of the Mournes,” she said.
“The bridge will be an important piece of infrastructure, but the ferry offered something entirely different – a slower, scenic journey that allowed people to truly experience the beauty of Carlingford Lough.
“It brought character, atmosphere and life to the area, and many people will be saddened that it now sits silent.”
Mournes DUP councillors Henry Reilly and Glyn Hanna also highlighted their disappointment at the development.
Cllr Reilly condemned what he called “the inaction of the Irish Government and Newry, Mourne and Down Council regarding the potential permanent loss of the Greencastle-based Carlingford Lough Ferry”.
